Outdoor ice skating in Toronto

Outdoor ice skating in Toronto is one of those activities that makes urban-dwelling seem a little less metropolitan. That is, unless you opt for the often-overcrowded rink at Nathan Phillips Square or another overly saturated outdoor spot. For the most part, though, these rinks seem to connect us a little better bit nature; be it through a lakeside view, a nature-immersed trail, or the windburn we inevitably get from spending too much time outside. While Toronto's natural ice rinks offer the best back-to-nature experience, they are, of course, weather contingent. So when the winter is a mild one like we're having this year, it might be better to check out some of outdoor ice skating rinks, open throughout winter in Toronto.

Sherbourne Common
This rink offers a simply stunning view of the city, as well a rink guard (occasionally) with whom you can enjoy the scene. While official skating hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the rink is not fenced in, and thus, technically accessible at all hours. No rentals or changerooms—just washrooms.

Lake Devo
Ryerson students know it as the sometimes-functioning fountain and pond where Tim Hortons cups float astray in the summertime. Come winter, however, the pond is frozen over and the public can come skate from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Occasionally, you'll come across members of the Ryerson figure skating team practicing their axels, and members of Ryerson's freshman community practicing frozen funneling.

Colonel Sam Smith Park
Colonel Sam Smith Park is the only place in Toronto with an official ice skating trail. Though not great for shinny (at around 4.5m wide) the 250m trail has a bit of a respite feel to it (as it should, being in Etobicoke), with a washroom and changing area nearby.

Campbell Park
Tucked away in the Dupont and Lansdowne area, Campbell Park is a great place to hit up midday, when the rink is quite and you can work on your hockey skills. Come afternoon, things get busier with the local shinny crowd. They also have a hot chocolate stand and $2 skate rentals.

Christie Pits
Vintage swimming trunks are swapped salvage leather ice skates in the wintertime when the crowd shifts from the pool to Christie Pitts' outdoor rink. The rink has designated free skate times, as well as a shinny schedule for kids, youths, adults, avoiding that annoying puck/skate clash. Christie Pitts also has a pretty decent change area (with skate-friendly rubber floors).

Brick Works Ice Trail
While not an official City trail, the Brick Works' free ice trail is not one to overlook. Under old industrial rafters, the Brick Works trail is open weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Skate rentals are available for $5 (or PWYC) and good food, of course, is available nearby at the farmers' market.

Kew Gardens
Like Christie Pitts, Kew Gardens' outdoor rink has designated times for free skate and shinny hockey. Though small, the change area actually has lockers for public use, meaning you don't have to worry about your boots sitting lonely by the side of the rink. Kew Gardens is one of the longest-open City rinks, available for use until March 11.

Trinity Bellwoods
Not exactly the place for a quiet, leisurely skate, but Trinity Bellwoods' rink does offer plenty of room for laps or a game of shinny. The fenced-in rink is one Toronto's few outdoor rinks that has designated shinny times for women's hockey, scheduled here this winter on Monday evenings. No rentals, but there is a nearby changing area.

High Park
High Park has two outdoor rink pads and its own zamboni onsite for regular maintenance. The rink is open as early at 9 a.m. on some days, and closed as late at 9:45 p.m., depending on whether free skate or shinny is on the roster. No rentals here either, though there is a changeroom for lacing up.

Dufferin Grove
Dufferin Grove is another spot for women's shinny and also one with two full-sized pads. This rinks is one of the best in Toronto in terms of amenities, with a $2 skate-lending program, a kitchen with fresh snacks, lockers, changerooms, organic coffee and hot chocolate, and (best of all) occasional live music.

Habourfront
Harbourfront skating is especially jolly during the holidays when it's drenched with music and cheer, though skating at the lakeside rink continues through the rest of the winter. Pleasure skating is free from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) with rentals available onsite and plenty of hot drinks and snacks. DJ skate night is held every Saturday night, testing our collective ability to grind while on blades.

Wallace Emerson
Wallace Emerson's double-pad rink is available for shinny and pleasure skates. One pad is left unfenced for the season, meaning skaters can take to the ice after the designated 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. close. The change area has skates and helmets to lend out for a nominal cost, as well as a snack bar and some books and games.

College Park
Right in the middle of all the action and unfenced — not great from nearby condo-dwellers, but idea for those keen on midnight skates. The rink at College Park is designated for pleasure skating only (though occasionally the young and restless will tote along a puck), and perhaps for that reason, often seems to be in pretty good condition. Changerooms and lockers onsite, though no rentals.

Note: This list was originally compiled in 2010, but was in need of an update due to new rink opening since then. We've purposely kept most of the archived comments here because we believe they (mostly) add value to this topic. If you don't want to have to wade through all of them, simply hit the "sort by newest first" link at the top of the thread.

Discussion

42 Comments

While the Barbara Ann Scott Rink at College Park can be accessed 24 hours, please be respectful of the people that live in the apartments beside it. I can hear you playing shinny at 2am, with my windows shut!

Our outdoor rinks are Toronto's winter jewels, and Dufferin Grove is simply one of the most vibrant public spaces in the city. Over the past two years Wallace-Emerson and Campbell Park have really caught on and get busier and busier. Truly the best thing about winter in the city.

Actually many of TO City rinks have the double pads as Duf Grove : Ramsden(Rosedale STN), Campbell(W of Lansdowne near Wallace), One @ St Clair/Lansdowne, Scadding (Dundas/Bathurst),Hodgson (MtPleasant/Davisville)and others. Duf Grove is great to pleasure sk8 on Sundays as the two pads are linked. Also great shinny games can be had in evenings. Ice is well maintained at it was one of few to still open in November(as they ALL used to do).

"From what I understand, some of these ‘open’ rinks will soon be fenced in."

Seriously? What a shame! Oh, we *MUST* regulate everything and shut out any unsupervised activity. Thou must only skate under the watchful eye of a municipal employee! *sigh*

But then, if that means some innocent people are more likely to get a good night's sleep since the fences will put a stop to 2 a.m. shinny, maybe that's a good thing. Too bad people can't just have a modicum of respect on their own, and refrain from noise-making in residential neighbourhoods at night...

While New York is no Toronto (public outdoor rinks are almost non-existent), the city has made great strides in opening a number of private outdoor rinks that thrill the tourists and boost civic pride. Toronto would do well to add a rink like Bryant Park that offers free admission (rentals are $12), has a terrific lounge space that (good for dates), and is surrounded by a cute set of kiosks selling gifts and snacks (fun for the non-skaters). It's more or less the ideal for urban skating and I would definitely consider something like this as a model if City Hall's rink/plaza is ever renovated.

Boo hoo. I agree with Lou; if you can't deal with the noise that comes with living in the downtown core - there's always the 'burbs. Cities are noisy; deal with it. Winter is dismal enough - and if 2am shinny is what brings joy to peoples lives try not to crush that joy.

A little gem of a rink --Prince of Wales -- at the bottom of 3rd st in Etobicoke south of the Lakeshore It's one of those tennis courts converted into a rink in the winter but it sits right on the lake and you can look across to the downtown Skyline. There are dedicated shinny and free skate times.

One of the city's best kept secrets is Greenwood Park. TWO skating rinks (one for shinny and one for pleasure) - both maintained pretty well. Scheduled shinny is great and most people stick to the sched. Women's shinny WED night 8-10 and Sat morn 10-12. Awesome.

I've never heard of anyone being denied taking photos in a public park (Unless it's posted). If you're in a public place and not on private property, there should be no reason this person should be asking you to stop taking photos (Unless your taking wedding photos which require a license).. If they persist in preventing you, I'd make sure to ask what his name was and what security company he works for and file a complaint. I"m sure it would really look good for Toronto's Tourism when people visiting this city are denied photo opportunities..

I'm glad you updated this post! I've undertaken my Great Skate project to try to skate at a different rink each weekend. It's great to have tips and reviews to know which rinks I should put on the top of my list.

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I have flights booked from London to Washington for New Years hopefully to catch the classic, My son and I are then looking to drive up to Toronto for a few days. In the UK were brought up never to skate on ponds etc...so Im 40 this year and have never skated or played hockey outside ! can anyone recommend 1 or 2 top places to skate on lake, pond river...I want to loose my virginity in Toronto :-) Its it easy to buy a cheap stick etc out there so we only have to bring our skates ?

Someone was asking about the old Scarborough Skating Rink - later known as Little Switzerland on Markham Road, maybe about a mile or so north of Kingston Road. I skated there for many years around 1943-4 to late 1950s. Probably last time would be when visiting (had moved to BC) 1963 or 4 - what a thrill it was to see it again. They played great music for skating. Wonderful memories.

I skated many times at Little Switzerland, the beautiful natural ice rink on Markham Rd. Scarborough in the late 40's and early 50's. If anyone has photos of it, I would just love to see them. It was on the east side of Markham Rd. north of
Eglinton Ave. in a valley adjacent to Scarboro Golf Club.

Sorry Don Heggie, I don't remember ever seeing anyone with a camera while skating out there. What a pity. I'd love to see pictures of it, and to show my kids, they've heard all about it. I wonder if anyone from the family who ran it would have any pictures - sure would be great to see. I know there was one son, the owner would occasionally ask all skaters to clear the rink so that he and 2 or 3 others could get out there on speed skates, they were very good, interesting to watch.
Thanks for responding - maybe someone else will see this - even have a picture. Perhaps the owners took pictures of the speed skaters, would be interesting to see. If I hear anything, I'll post it here.

Florence, your brother was right on with the owner's name. I remember ofter phoning the Edmunds to see if the rink would be open on a mild night. Their son Bruce used to sometimes drive the tractor to clear the snow from the ice. They used to flood the rink with water from Highland Creek, which separated the
rink from Scarboro Golf Club. I sure hope someone reads these blogs who has photos of that beautiful place. It was like wonderland with all the coloured lights on the trees.

Paul, just realized no one responed to you, maybe too late, but thought I would give it a shot! Harbourfront Skating rink has skate rentals. It is a little manmade pond right off of lake ontario, with a great view of the CN tower in the back ground! Very "Canadian"! Check out the link in the article above. No hockey allowed though, just skating. You could always pick up a pair of skates and some sticks at Canadian Tire (one downtown at Bay and Dundas) and go play some shinny in one of the parks. Hope you enjoy your trip!

Paul, just realized no one responed to you, maybe too late, but thought I would give it a shot! Harbourfront Skating rink has skate rentals. It is a little manmade pond right off of lake ontario, with a great view of the CN tower in the back ground! Very "Canadian"! Check out the link in the article above. No hockey allowed though, just skating. You could always pick up a pair of skates and some sticks at Canadian Tire (one downtown at Bay and Dundas) and go play some shinny in one of the parks. Hope you enjoy your trip!

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